LOS ANGELES – A 74-year-old Arizona woman has been awarded $7.25 million by a federal jury after suffering a serious spinal injury while exiting a popular Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios Hollywood.
Pamela Morrison filed a lawsuit against the theme park following a fall in September 2022, which occurred as she was stepping off the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. Morrison, who was visiting the park with her grandson, was initially seated on the ride when a safety harness failed to secure properly. Park employees asked her to exit, but as she stepped from a moving walkway onto solid ground, she slipped and fell, sustaining a spinal compression fracture.
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Morrison’s attorney, Taylor Kruse, argued that the injury was entirely preventable, claiming that Universal Studios employees failed to stop the moving walkway to ensure her safe exit.
“It would have cost them four seconds to stop it, but instead they wanted to keep the ride moving no matter what, to make its quota of 1,800 riders per hour,” Kruse said on Tuesday.
In response, Universal Studios’ legal team contended that Morrison’s fall was due to her inattention, claiming she was focused on her grandson rather than on where she was stepping.
Jury Holds Universal Studios Liable
Following a three-day trial, a California jury deliberated for four hours on February 14 before ruling in Morrison’s favor. The jury determined that Universal Studios Hollywood was responsible for creating the hazardous conditions that led to her injury.
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Morrison was awarded:
- $250,000 for future medical expenses
- $2 million for past pain and suffering
- $5 million for future pain and suffering
A request for comment on the verdict was sent to Universal Studios Hollywood, but no response has been provided.
“The Fall Changed Her Whole Life”
Kruse emphasized the significant impact the injury has had on Morrison’s daily life.
“The fall changed her whole life, and that’s what the jury saw,” he said. “Obviously, we feel that this was a very just result.”
The case highlights ongoing concerns about theme park safety and ride operation procedures, particularly for older guests and those with mobility concerns.
